Contractors handling various cargo survey projects for the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have expressed dismay over the non-payment of their contract fees.
The contractors, who were duly engaged after a competitive bidding process by the NPA in 2024 and met their contractual obligations, wondered why the Authority, under the supervision of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, kept delaying their payments.
Information gathered that despite multiple appeals to the Minister and the leadership of the NPA, the agency had continued to default on payments to the contractors.
The delayed payments have raised serious concerns about the federal government’s nonchalant attitude in meeting its contractual obligations.
One of the contractors lamented that most firms had spent billions of naira in executing the contracts but were yet to receive payment for their services to the nation.
A source claimed that many of these companies have made significant capital investments in infrastructure and equipment.
“We have submitted invoices covering vessels and their quantities to respective port managers for certification of work done in accordance with contract specifications. Invoices are processed and sent to the NPA headquarters in Marina, Lagos, for payment.
“Since June 2024, invoices for the covered period have been withheld, despite the completion of the required services. All invoices forwarded to Marina by the port managers, after due checks by responsible departments, have been accepted and documented on the MD’s table. Subsequent invoices have also been received but remain pending approval for payment,” a source stated.
The contractors, therefore, appealed to Oyetola and the management of the NPA to settle all outstanding payments, arguing that the delays were damaging the credibility of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
But when contacted for comment on the development, an aide of the minister of Blue and Marine Economy, who did not want his name mentioned because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, said his principal wasn’t an impediment to the delay payments of contractors.
He said Oyetola had, in recent times, led the management of the NPA to a meeting with the Minister of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation with a view to getting all contractors paid.
“The minister has no role in the day-to-day activities of the NPA. I can confirm to you that the minister had recently led the MD of NPA to the minister of finance over the non-payments of contractors generally.
“The man who is making such efforts can’t be said to be an impediment to any contractor.
“Probably, the nonpayment may be as a result of the non-release of funds from the Ministry of Finance and the Accountant General’s office,” he stated.
